Joanna counts among her strongest influences those singer/songwriters who are not only exceptional musicians and artists, but are also, to one degree or another, extraordinary lyricists expressing a truly personal vision - Kate Bush, Bjork, Joni Mitchell, Sting, Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, Annie Lennox, Missy Higgins, Fiona Apple, Tom Waits - along with the heartfelt simplicity of Jewel or Dido.
Joanna's solo debut "Breaking the Habit" was released in February 2004 and has garnered rave reviews across the globe and generated a healthy internet presence, selling well on amazon and cdbaby, on itunes and at independent outlets. Joanna placed in the July round of "Song of the Month" and was a recommended artist in the VH1 International Songwriting contest; going on to win "Song of the Month" in August 2004 with her innovative track "Past Unconditional". She was featured on the October 4th "My Day" interview segment of BBC Radio in the UK; and in December 2004 she was awarded the Muse's Muse awards for Best Adult Contemporary Artist 2004 and Best Adult Contemporary Song 2004 (for "Rainbow", her ironic paean to Prozac). Joanna's songs have been featured on various primetime television series, including "The Unit" on CBS. To learn more, click here for www.joannamcmeikan.com
RAINBOW
Joanna McMeikan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a murder of crows,
And then ghost dark horizons,
Used to be a gray sky girl,
In a gray sky world,
Where the flood was always rising,
But I've found my yellow brick road,
Found my smile in an orange plastic bottle,
Fifteen milligrams a day,
These small blue pills ease my pain,
Chemical umbrella, protect me from the rain,
So I don't have to feel, and I don't have to know,
These small blue pills paint me a rainbow,
Paint me a rainbow,
Should I go back to black,
To everything I lack,
To the chaos and confusion,
Well, if reality's the holy grail,
Honey, mine's for sale,
Trade it for illusion any day,
Cause I've found my yellow brick road,
And I'm laughing all the way,
Seing life through an orange plastic bottle,
It makes everything okay,
These small blue pills ease my pain,
Chemical umbrella, protect me from the rain,
So I don't have to feel, and I don't have to know,
These small blue pills,
Oh, these small blue pills ease my pain,
Chemical umbrella, protect me from the rain,
May not be real, but I don't have to know,
These small blue pills, they paint me a rainbow,
They paint me a rainbow,
Come come, to the Prozac nation,
Where the scarecrow and the tin man can begin, (rainbow)
Where life is one long celebration, (rainbow)
And even witches get to sink, (rainbow)
Even witches get to sink...
The lyrics of Joanna McMeikan's song "Rainbow" explore the idea of escapism through the use of medication to ease emotional pain. The singer reflects on her previous struggles with depression and a bleak outlook on life, represented by the imagery of the "murder of crows" and "ghost dark horizons." However, she has found a way out through medication, symbolized by the "yellow brick road" and the "orange plastic bottle." She acknowledges that the pills may not be real, but they paint her a "rainbow" that shields her from the pain and harsh realities of life.
The chorus repeats the idea of the "small blue pills" being a "chemical umbrella" that protects the singer from the "rain" of emotions and experiences. She doesn't have to feel or know the truth of her situation, as long as the pills keep painting her a colorful and happy world. The lyrics also acknowledge the societal pressure to conform to the idea of reality, but the singer chooses to live in the illusion of her medication-induced rainbow.
Overall, "Rainbow" presents a complex and poignant view of the use of medication to cope with mental health issues. It shows the relief and hope that medication can bring, but also raises questions about the nature of reality and the potential dangers of relying solely on medication for emotional stability.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to dream in blacks and indigos,
I used to have gloomy, despairing thoughts that would inhibit me from living life to the fullest.
Like a murder of crows,
My negative thoughts and emotions would swarm me and threaten my well-being like a flock of crows.
And then ghost dark horizons,
My outlook on life consisted of bleak and desolate images of the future.
Used to be a gray sky girl,
I used to live a mundane and unfulfilling life, devoid of any excitement or passion.
In a gray sky world,
My environment was as dull and monotonous as my life, offering no opportunities for growth or discovery.
Where the flood was always rising,
I was under constant stress and pressure, as problems and obstacles seemed to always pile up without any respite.
But I've found my yellow brick road,
I have found my path to happiness and fulfillment in life.
And now it's sunshine all the way,
My life is now characterized by positivity and optimism, and I can appreciate even the smallest joys in life.
Found my smile in an orange plastic bottle,
I have found solace and relief in taking my prescribed dose of antidepressants.
Fifteen milligrams a day,
My prescribed dosage of antidepressants is 15 milligrams per day.
These small blue pills ease my pain,
My medication helps alleviate the burdensome weight of anxiety and depression that I had been struggling with on my own.
Chemical umbrella, protect me from the rain,
My medication acts as a shield and a barrier, preventing negative emotions and experiences from affecting me as strongly as they used to.
So I don't have to feel, and I don't have to know,
My medication essentially numbs my emotions and keeps me from dwelling on my problems, allowing me to lead a more stable and balanced life.
These small blue pills paint me a rainbow,
My medication has transformed my life so drastically that it feels like I'm seeing the world in full color for the first time in a long time.
Should I go back to black,
I sometimes question whether it's worth giving up my medication and returning to the bleak and dark place I was once in.
To everything I lack,
I would be returning to a life where everything felt unfulfilling and empty, with no sense of purpose or direction.
To the chaos and confusion,
I would be exposing myself to the tumultuous and unpredictable nature of life without any support or guidance.
Well, if reality's the holy grail,
If true, unfiltered reality is the ultimate goal in life,
Honey, mine's for sale,
I'm willing to give up that goal in exchange for the comfort and stability that my medication gives me.
Trade it for illusion any day,
I prefer the illusion of happiness and positivity that my medication provides over the harsh reality of life without it.
Cause I've found my yellow brick road,
My medication is the path that I have found towards happiness and fulfillment in life.
And I'm laughing all the way,
I'm now able to appreciate the joys of life and approach it with a brighter outlook, thanks to my medication.
Seing life through an orange plastic bottle,
My medication has become a lens through which I see the world, shaping my perception of it and enabling me to stay positive.
It makes everything okay,
My medication helps me cope with the stresses of life and keeps me calm and centered through the ups and downs of everyday life.
Come come, to the Prozac nation,
Come join the community of people who have found peace and stability in life through antidepressants such as Prozac.
Where the scarecrow and the tin man can begin, (rainbow)
In this community, those who once felt empty and unfeeling can rediscover joy and connection in life, just as the characters in The Wizard of Oz did.
Where life is one long celebration, (rainbow)
Joining this community opens up a world of opportunities, optimism, and positivity, making life feel like a constant celebration of its wonders.
And even witches get to sink, (rainbow)
Even those who feel cursed or burdened with negative emotions can thrive and find happiness in this community.
Even witches get to sink...
No matter how low you may feel or how hopeless things may seem, there is always a way to find happiness and fulfillment in life, and joining the Prozac nation can be that way for many people.
Contributed by Madison F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.